Kian Bell scored five goals, in every way imaginable Tuesday night, to lead the North Stars to an 8-2 win over Yorkton. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

A Night to Remember

Bell scores five in remarkable night as Stars top Terriers

Feb 22, 2023 | 1:29 AM

It was a magical night at the Access Communications Centre Tuesday, and one North Stars fans won’t soon forget.

Forward Kian Bell scored five goals, to bring his total to 49 on the year in just 44 games, in a brilliant six-point performance to lead the Stars in an 8-2 win over the Yorkton Terriers.

Like artistry on ice, akin to a piano player in a grand hall, or painter molding blank canvas into breathtaking delight, Bell’s performance was that of a master of his craft in the Junior hockey ranks.

Scoring two on the power play, another shorthanded, and two more at even strength, if not for a tremendous stop by Yorkton goalie Caleb Allen in the final seconds, Bell could have made it a double hat trick, as he was lethal throughout the night in a performance for the ages.

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Looking to become the first Stars’ player in more than 30 years to hit the 50-goal plateau, and first since his uncle Marty Smith did so during the ’91-92 season, Bell entered the night with 44 goals in 43 games, picking up number 45 to open the scoring late in the first, on a laser wrister from the left circle to make it 1-0 Battlefords.

After Clay Sleeva knotted the score for the Terriers just 6:27 into the second, Steven Kesslering added his 29th and Zane Florence his seventh, on back-to-back tallies within a minute to jump the Stars back in front with insurance at 3-1.

Just a minute after that… enter Bell once again.

This time chopping home his second of the night and 46^th of the campaign on an even strength rebound, Bell’s goal stretched his team’s lead to 4-1 midway through the frame.

Just four minutes later, with just under 6:00 to go in the period, Bell’s hat trick goal brought his total to 47, on what was his prettiest of the night, and a sure-fire candidate for Goal of the Year. Busting in on goal, this time he cashed in for a shorthanded marker, while falling onto his back on the release from the deep slot.

Dylan Ruptash’s rookie-leading 20^th of the season kept the Terriers alive in the game at 5-2. Though that was only until Bell found Jake Southgate for a wicked release to the top corner far-side, to bring his season total to 19 and the Stars’ lead to 6-2 at the end of 40 minutes.

In the third, Bell capped the night with two more goals, adding number 48 early in the final period on another top-shelf power play wrister, and 49 before the final horn on a persistent rebound effort in front to make it an 8-2 final.

Now just one goal away from becoming just the fifth North Star in franchise history to reach the exclusive 50-goal plateau, the stage is set heading into the team’s parent/billet weekend, this weekend.

“I guess you couldn’t really write it up better,” Bell said with a smile, postgame. “If there was a time for that to happen it would be that weekend, so I’m just [keeping my] fingers crossed that it happens.”

In addition to Bell’s headlining performance, Jake Southgate (1G, 2A), Steven Kesslering (1G, 1A), Holden Doell (2A), and Tanner Gold (2A) also picked up multi-point games, while goalie Josh Kotai stopped 35/37 between the pipes to backstop the team to the win.

The North Stars will open their parent/billet weekend Friday night at the ACC against Melville. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

19:22 BAT Kian Bell (45) ASST: Steven Kesslering, Holden Doell (PP) 1-0 Stars

Second period:

6:27 YOR Clay Sleeva (13) ASST: Dylan Ruptash 1-1 Tie

8:17 BAT Steven Kesslering (29) ASST: Jackson Allan, Brad Blake 2-1 Stars

9:08 BAT Zane Florence (7) ASST: Riley Girod, Colby Bear 3-1 Stars

10:57 BAT Kian Bell (46) ASST: Tanner Gold, Jake Southgate 4-1 Stars

14:19 BAT Kian Bell (47) ASST: Jordan Grill (SH) 5-1 Stars

15:25 YOR Dylan Ruptash (20) ASST: Clay Sleeva, Quintin Unreiner (PP) 5-2 Stars

18:25 BAT Jake Southgate (19) ASST: Kian Bell 6-2 Stars

Third period:

4:01 BAT Kian Bell (48) ASST: Jake Southgate, Tynan Ewart (PP) 7-2 Stars

11:37 BAT Kian Bell (49) ASST: Tanner Gold, Holden Doell 8-2 Stars

8-2 North Stars, the final

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1